By Matthew Hall – Africa is embracing drone technology, and people’s lives stand to be transformed as drones become more widespread. With the continent’s lack of infrastructure and difficult-to-reach areas, drones show potential to be a game-changer not only when it comes to humanitarian needs, such as emergency services in a disaster, but also in critical sectors of the local market, increasing efficiencies and enhancing operations.
South Africa’s drone market is estimated to reach US$134.5 million by 2025. This growth is partly due to the rise in the adoption of drones in industries that form the backbone of the economy, such as agriculture and mining, as well as in security, search and rescue, and healthcare, which can significantly impact public wellbeing.
Propelling farming into the future
Drones show much potential in transforming agriculture. When flown over farms, drones can survey the land and collect data on livestock, crop health, weather patterns, and more. Coupled with artificial intelligence (AI), this data can be used to help farmers track livestock, plan harvests, and identify crop issues, allowing farming to be more precise, efficient, profitable, and sustainable.
Drones are also being used in crop spraying, as opposed to using piloted microlight planes. Along with the expense incurred, plane crop-dusting risks dousing neighbouring farms or unprepared crops with unwanted chemicals, and uneven application can interfere with artificial ripening processes, causing damage to crops. Drones offer a more cost-effective and less potentially harmful solution.
Making an impact on mining
In the mining industry, fast turn-around times, safety, and accurate data are key. Using drones to perform surveying and monitoring tasks, and removing the human element, provides a safer work environment.
Additionally, drones can help provide accurate stockpile and dump calculations through volume measurements, while saving time and money with automated features built into equipment performing tasks, which done manually would waste extensive time and resources.
Advancing security and public safety
Private security companies are increasingly using drones as a surveillance tool, to track criminal activity and monitor assets, estates, and business premises. Fidelity was one of the first security companies in South Africa to use drones for security in suburban areas, but many others have since followed suit.
Thermally equipped cameras enable surveillance at night, and as a result drones can also play an important role in rural areas and wildlife reserves, such as in monitoring fire breaks and supporting anti-poaching units.
Responding to an emergency
For emergency services and law enforcement teams, drones are fast becoming the first line of defense, empowering public safety teams and aiding search and rescue operations. Making use of drones, emergency personnel can monitor an area from the sky, giving them an opportunity to assess a situation from a safe distance, while finding the best solution to respond. As time is critical in such situations, this can help to apply the correct resources and assistance, minimise risks and save lives more quickly.
In some instances, drones are a safer way to put a camera into a location that might otherwise be a challenge to reach or pose a safety hazard for a photographer, such as in structural collapses or investigations involving fatal falls from heights. Drones can also assist in post-incident investigations, such as taking photographic evidence at the scene and collecting data while using less manpower, often in poor conditions.
Taking healthcare to new heights
One of the biggest areas that stands to benefit from drone technology is healthcare. Since 2016, Rwanda’s Zipline has used drones to deliver vaccines and blood donations to rural clinics, and what used to take a day by road now only takes 30 minutes. The country’s Minister of ICT and Innovation has stated that the investment in drones has also led to other applications, such as the spraying of pesticides to combat malaria.
Being able to fly distances, be deployed easily and quickly, and controlled remotely, also makes medical drones ideal for use cases, such as diagnostic tests and organ transfers. In addition, as home healthcare becomes more in demand, drones can drop off chronic medication and even provide regular inspections for the elderly population, for example.
Drone technology has huge potential in transforming industry and public safety. Whether it’s combatting malaria in Rwanda, or beefing up suburban security in South Africa, drones are ready for take off in our local market.
Matthew Hall is the Chief Product Officer of Rectron South Africa